Untouched and unspoiled by the forces
of modernity, Galle is the capital city
of southern province of Sri Lanka with
a colourful history. A UNESCO declared
World Heritage Site; the Dutch fort out
here attracts a number of tourists. This
place is still alive with the 300 year
old Dutch history and you can find many
historical Dutch buildings and monuments
out here. The Dutch Fort, which spreads
across 36 hectors, has an amazing collection
of structures and culture that dates back
to centuries. This fort now houses administrative
offices, courts, companies etc. Tourism
is Galle is slowly catching a momentum
with a lot of boutique hotels coming along,
in all those old vintage buildings. Centre
of European administration for about 4
centuries, this ancient city is reminiscent
of grand Dutch civilization in Sri Lanka.
Galle is the main city in the most southerly
part of the island, with a population
of around 100 000, and is connected by
rail to Colombo and Matara. On 26 December
2004 the city was devastated by the massive
Boxing Day Tsunami caused by the 2004
Indian Ocean earthquake that occurred
a thousand miles away, off the coast of
Indonesia. Thousands were killed in the
city alone. Galle is home to a cricket
ground, the Galle International Stadium,
rebuilt after the tsunami. Test matches
resumed there on December 18, 2007.
Rumassala in Unawatuna is a large mound-like
hill, which forms the eastern protective
barrier to the Galle harbour. Local tradition
associates this hill with some events
of the Ramayana.

Things to Do...

Galle offer you a chance to have a close
encounter with ancient colonial history
of Sri Lanka. Some of the must visit places
in Galle are - the Dutch Reformed Port,
which was built by the Dutch army at the
site of an old Portuguese church; Ahangama,
where you can see some of the most unique
fishing techniques like silt fishing;
the world famous Dutch fort; Koggala which
has a museum of Folk, art and culture
and one can also go for boat trip in the
lagoon and the Koggala Lake here; the
Dutch Museum which contains paintings,
prints, documents, furniture and ceramics
from the Dutch era. Hence every step you
take in this historical city will bring
you closer to the grand history of the
Dutch, one of the most powerful and famous
colonial masters of the olden days.
Galle provides a lot of activities for
the tourists to do. They can go to the
Unawatuna Beach, which is just about 5
kms from the main town and is a good place
to hang out, soaking up the sun and just
relaxing. You can also shop for many handicrafts
that are popular in this place. Some of
them are lace making, gem polishing etc.
There are some renowned jeweller shops
out here. Another important handicraft
is carved pieces of Ebony. Or you can
just take a taxi or a cab and drive around
the city. Accommodation is not a problem
as numerous hotels, inns, guest houses,
resorts and other types of accommodation
are available at affordable cost. The
nearest airport is in Colombo. After landing
here you can take a bus of taxi to Galle.
It is also an international sea port,
which is connected to various other sea
ports of the world. The best season to
visit Galle is the spring, particularly
February. It is good to avoid the wet
months from May to September.
Amongst the many wonders are the intriguing
assortments of art and craft, the making
of which are traditions often passed down
from one generation to the next. In the
city centre, its outskirts and in nearby
villages around Galle, handicrafts is
an industry that has been kept alive,
long over the years. Many are indigenous
to the region itself, and were highly
sought after in ancient times by royalty,
and subsequently by the ruling colonial
powers.
Intricately crafted wood carving is a
signature product of the South and Ebony
Work of antiquity are immensely valuable,
as the rich black wood of the Ebony tree
- now being a protected species, can no
longer be used. Using a mallet and chisel,
craftsmen create ornate designs using
skills and techniques handed down by their
ancestors.
An exquisite legacy of the Portuguese,
the art of lace making continues to be
a popular livelihood nearly four centuries
later. The two main types, crochet and
pillow lace in delicate, fine designs
are deftly picked out by expert fingers
- a skill mastered over generations.
Costume jewellery is also available in
varied shapes and forms. Silver, gold
or other metals inlaid with coloured stones
and the more complex Kandyan jewellery
using an unusual technique termed filigree.
There are indeed many other treasures
to discover too - the rich diversity of
handcrafts in Galle will ensure that you
find that unique keepsake or gift you
search for.